The Queen of the Black Throne Comes Calling

Morning, by rights, begins when the sun comes up. At least, that was how it had worked on the Earth where I used to live. Nonhuman Pandemonium, it seemed, had other ideas.

"……What is that?"

I muttered it at the window, because a colossal mouth was hanging in the sky. Lips vast enough to cut across the violet heavens parted by slow degrees, and from within them thousands of teeth slid into view. Then, between those teeth, a single golden sphere rose, shining for all the world like a sun.

"Whoa……."

I couldn't help the awe.

"A mouth that spits out the sun."

Honestly, the design was everything I could have asked for. Did that enormous mouth cough the sun up into the sky, then swallow it down again once night fell? If so, sunrise and sunset in this world were the work of a single living thing.

"This is insane. Actually insane."

The moment I pressed close to the glass, the great mouth overhead moved.

"……?"

The lips parted a fraction, as if it had only just realized someone was looking at it. I waved on reflex.

"Good morning!"

The enormous mouth went still.

"……You are greeting me?"

A voice rolled out that shook the whole of the sky.

"Yes!"

I grinned.

"You're working hard, first thing in the morning!"

"……Working hard?"

"Hauling the sun out has to count as a job, doesn't it?"

The great mouth closed, slowly—and then—

"……My thanks."

A moment later, a low, heavy voice spread across the air.

"It has been thousands of years since I heard those words."

"Aw, don't mention it."

I waved again.

"Have a good day!"

"……And you."

And so morning in Nonhuman Pandemonium began.

Of course, I had no idea that the being I had just greeted was the Mouth That Swallows Dawn, the high-tier entity who governed sunrise and sunset across the realm. Nor that it was the first time in thousands of years that entity had been thanked by anyone at all.

"Sir Baek Hoon, are you awake?"

Knock, knock. Someone rapped at the door.

"Yes! Come in!"

Creeeak. The door opened, and in came a maid with a teapot for a head. Tia. Today, as always, she wore a neat black maid's uniform, and the white apron sat with antique elegance against that teapot head, as if the two had been made for each other.

"Good morning, Sir Baek Hoon."

"Good morning, Miss Tia!"

The moment I answered so cheerfully, white steam bloomed from the spout of her teapot.

"Hehe. Full of energy again today, I see."

"I slept like a rock."

"I'm glad. The mistress was worried about you."

"Miss Orvelia was?"

"Yes. She was checking on your condition until quite late last night."

"Aigoo, I made her worry over nothing."

I scratched my head. Tia studied me for a moment, then asked, carefully.

"Sir Baek Hoon."

"Yes?"

"Did you happen to make any promise with the mistress last night?"

"A promise?"

"Yes."

I thought for a second. Right—yesterday I had agreed to broadcast with Orvelia.

"Oh, we said we'd stream together today."

"……Stream?"

"Yes. On the Nonhuman Pandemonium Public Information Network."

Water sloshed inside Tia's teapot.

"Is that all?"

"Hmm……."

I thought again, then nodded.

"Yeah. I think so."

Tia let out a quiet sigh.

"……I see."

"Why? What's wrong?"

"It is nothing."

She bowed with perfect courtesy.

"More importantly, breakfast is ready."

"Oh!"

I brightened at once.

"What's on the menu today?"

"Hehe. You will see when you get there."

The moment I stepped into the dining room, a savory aroma drifted over me, and I looked toward the table with a face full of anticipation. Then I lost the power of speech.

"……Huh?"

There was an eyeball on the plate. Or something that looked very much like one: atop a great white sat a black pupil shaped like a yolk, with red sauce splashed all around it. Beside that lay a sausage the very image of a human finger, and the bread had opened a little mouth and was muttering something under its breath.

"……."

I stared blankly at the spread, and Tia asked, tentative.

"Is it not to your liking?"

"No."

I shook my head, slowly.

"I love it?"

"……Pardon?"

"Whoa, this is incredible."

I leaned in over the plate.

"Is this an eyeball dish?"

"Yes. It is prepared with the eye of a Gazer that has drunk the morning dew."

"Ooh!"

"What you see beside it is finger sausage from a Screaming Pig, and the bread is made from Whispering Wheat."

"Whoa……."

I was genuinely impressed.

"A full dark-fantasy menu."

Tia tilted her head.

"Dark fantasy……?"

"Ah, it's an expression from the world I used to live in."

"I see."

I picked up a fork and carefully cut into the eyeball. Splurt. A dark crimson liquid welled out.

"Oh."

The moment a piece hit my tongue, a soft texture and a deep, rich savor spread through my mouth.

"……It's delicious!"

I meant it. Grotesque as it looked, the flavor was astonishingly good.

"Miss Tia!"

"Yes?"

"This is seriously delicious!"

In that instant, the water inside Tia's teapot began to boil. Blub, blub, blub!

"Oh my……."

She hastily covered her spout with one hand.

"Do you truly mean that?"

"Yes! It's completely delicious!"

Tia asked, cautious.

"Then…… would it be all right if I made it for you again?"

"Of course!"

I laughed.

"I feel like I could eat this every single day."

At that, hot steam shot from the spout of her teapot. Fwoooosh!

"Eek!"

Tia jerked her head aside.

"I-I'm so sorry!"

"Ah, it's fine."

I waved a hand.

"If you're too hot, you can cool off."

"……Pardon?"

"It looked like the water was boiling inside the teapot."

Tia stared at me for a long moment, then murmured in a very small voice.

"……You really are a gentle person."

I didn't hear her, of course. I was already on my second eyeball.

After the meal, I headed for the mansion's central hall to meet Orvelia. The moment I arrived, though, something felt slightly off.

"……?"

The servants were rushing about. The clocks on the walls were spinning faster than usual, and black drapes were going up all along the corridors. Even the front doors of the mansion were being fitted with enormous extra gears.

"Is something going on?"

I asked a servant passing by. He had a human body and the head of an old lantern, and the moment he saw me he bowed in a hurry.

"Ah, Sir Baek Hoon."

"Hello."

"Good morning."

A blue flame wavered inside his lantern.

"Is there some kind of event?"

"……An event?"

"Yes. Everyone looks so busy."

The lantern-headed servant hesitated, then answered with care.

"A distinguished guest is expected today."

"Oh?"

I perked up at once.

"Who is it?"

"That is……."

Just as he was about to answer—

Tick!

Every clock in the corridor stopped, and a familiar voice reached me.

"Sir Baek Hoon."

I turned. Orvelia was standing there, dressed differently than usual. Over her black dress she wore a long coat embroidered in gold, and around her clock-face head small gears floated like a crown.

"Miss Orvelia!"

I waved, delighted.

"Good morning!"

"Hehe. Good morning."

She came toward me.

"Was breakfast to your taste?"

"It was incredibly good."

"I'm glad."

Orvelia smiled softly, then asked with care.

"Sir Baek Hoon, were you thinking of going out today?"

"Hmm……."

I considered it. The truth was, I wanted to see the city. Now that I was in this world, I wanted to meet all kinds of nonhumans for myself.

"If I can, I'd like to go out."

Tick. One of her clock hands moved a single notch.

"……Is that so?"

"Yes. You said there was a city nearby."

"I did."

"I want to look around."

Orvelia answered gently.

"Then I shall guide you."

"Really?"

"Yes. Only……."

She looked toward the mansion's front doors.

"It would be better if we left a little later today."

"Why?"

"A distinguished guest is expected."

"Ah, one of the servants mentioned that earlier."

I nodded.

"Who's coming?"

Orvelia's clock hands stopped.

"The Queen of the Black Throne."

I blinked.

"What?"

"The Queen of the Black Throne is due to visit."

Silence held for a moment. And then—

"……Huh?"

Belatedly, I realized who the Queen of the Black Throne was.

"Ah, the one who sent me a heart during yesterday's broadcast, right?"

"Yes."

"Whoa!"

Delight got the better of me.

"She's actually coming to meet me!"

Orvelia looked at me.

"……You are not afraid?"

"Why would I be?"

"She is one of the most dangerous beings in all of Nonhuman Pandemonium."

"Ah."

I thought about it. Now that she mentioned it, everyone on the broadcast had seemed terrified of that queen. But to me, she was someone who had kindly sent a gift.

"She didn't seem like a bad person, though?"

"……."

"She even gave me a present."

Orvelia's clock hands moved, slowly.

"……I see."

She smiled, small.

"You truly are a remarkable person, Sir Baek Hoon."

"Ahaha. You're too kind."

I scratched my head, then asked her.

"So what does the queen look like?"

"……Her appearance?"

"Yes."

I brightened.

"Is she an object head, by any chance?"

Orvelia regarded me for a moment, then answered.

"You could say she is, to a certain extent."

"Ooh!"

I clenched a fist.

"I can't wait!"

In that instant, every pupil that had surfaced on Orvelia's clock face narrowed at once.

"……Hehe."

She laughed, quietly.

"Is that so."

Within a vast citadel whose thousands of spires pierced the sky, a being stood before a mirror. She had the form of a woman in a black dress, but above her neck, where a human face ought to have been, there was only endless void. And within that void floated a single red star.

Called the Queen of the Black Throne, known as the most dangerous among the countless high-tier entities of Nonhuman Pandemonium, her name was Noctia.

Noctia tilted her head at the mirror.

"……Will this do?"

In the glass, the red star turned slowly inside the void that served as the head of the woman in the black dress.

"Will he be a little frightened?"

She considered it, then snapped her fingers.

Snap!

At once more stars appeared within the void, and silver stars rose around the red one, forming a small galaxy.

"Hehe. This is prettier."

She smiled, satisfied. Just then, a shadow revealed itself beneath the throne.

"Your Majesty."

"Hm?"

"Do you truly intend to go in person?"

"Of course."

Noctia answered as if it were nothing.

"I promised yesterday."

"But that place is the clockmaker's domain."

"I know."

"There is a chance she will not welcome Your Majesty's visit……."

"Then I'll simply make her welcome it."

Noctia laughed.

"I even prepared a gift."

The shadow asked, careful.

"What have you prepared this time?"

"Hehe."

Noctia raised a hand, and a small box appeared in the empty air—a box wrapped in black velvet. Inside it lay a single ring, and at the ring's center was set a small black star.

"……Your Majesty."

The shadow's voice trembled.

"Surely that isn't……."

Noctia smiled.

"Mm, it is. The star I carried when I was first born."

"……!"

The shadow dropped to its knees in a rush.

"Y-you mean to give that as a gift?!"

"Is there a problem?"

"That is bound to Your Majesty's origin……!"

"I know."

Noctia cut the shadow off and closed the box.

"But I think it will suit that child."

She murmured, quietly.

"When I sent my gift……."

The red star in the void shone, soft.

"That child wasn't afraid."

A strange feeling threaded her voice.

"He said it was pretty."

The shadow could say nothing. Noctia laughed, slowly.

"I can't even remember the last time anyone said something like that to me."

She tucked the box against her chest.

"So I want to meet him myself."

And she rose from the throne.

"The child who accepted my gift."

I was walking the mansion gardens with Tia.

"Whoa, this flower is seriously amazing."

I looked at the pocket-watch blossoms blooming in the bed. In place of petals, tiny clock hands had opened, and at the center of each sat an eye of glass.

Tia explained.

"It is a flower called Time Grass."

"Time Grass?"

"Yes. A plant that grows by absorbing the time around it."

"Ooh."

"It is dangerous, however, so please do not draw too close."

"Why?"

"It may steal your time."

I eased a step back.

"Ah, that's a little scary."

Tia laughed softly.

"Hehe. You are very honest, Sir Baek Hoon."

"Am I?"

"Yes."

She ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠looked at me.

"Most high-tier entities try not to show their fear."

"Ahaha."

I scratched my head.

A high-tier entity, huh…….

Tia, it seemed, had decided I was quite the impressive nonhuman. In reality I was an ordinary human, and only my head had been swapped for a television. Of course, I had no intention of volunteering that fact. I had been told that in this world, humans were treated as prey.

Safer to keep pretending I'm a nonhuman, for now.

That was what I thought.

Vwoooom!

Then, all at once, the whole garden shook.

"……Huh?"

I looked up. A black fissure was opening in the middle of the violet sky, and as the crack slowly widened, countless stars glittered within it.

"Whoa……."

My mouth fell open at the beauty of it, and inside Tia's teapot the water began to boil.

"……!"

She dropped to her knees in a hurry.

"Sir Baek Hoon!"

"Yes?"

"Please step back!"

"Why?"

"That person is……!"

In that moment, a woman walked out of the fissure. She had the beautiful figure of a woman in a black dress, but above her neck, where a face should have been, there was only endless void, and within it countless stars turned like a galaxy. Every time her foot touched empty air, black flowers bloomed.

"……Whoa."

I couldn't hold the awe back.

"Holy shit…… she's gorgeous."

In that instant, every star in the sky glittered at once.

Noctia doubted her ears. Or—since she had no ears—perhaps she ought to say she doubted her awareness.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

She had watched countless worlds, and countless beings had feared her. Some worshipped her, some hated her, and some coveted her power. But the man with the CRT head before her now—

"Whoa……."

—was staring at her in open admiration.

"The design is actually insane."

Design? Noctia tilted her head.

"……You like how ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I look?"

"Yes!"

The CRT-headed man, Baek Hoon, answered at once.

"I like it so much!"

He took a step closer.

"Are all the stars inside your head real stars?"

"……Hm?"

"Sorry, I'm just really curious."

A sparkling pair of eyes appeared on Baek Hoon's CRT screen.

"That whole thing looks like a universe, doesn't it?"

Noctia answered, slowly.

"……It is."

"Whoa!"

Baek Hoon was awed.

"That's seriously cool!"

In that moment, every star in Noctia's void blazed bright at once. And before she knew it, she had lifted a hand to cradle her head.

"……Hehe."

A laugh slipped out of her.

"What a fascinating child."

"Ah, are you the queen I saw on the broadcast yesterday?"

"Mm, that's me."

Noctia nodded.

"I'm Noctia."

"I'm Baek Hoon!"

"I know."

She smiled.

"I've been watching you since yesterday."

"Ahaha. Well, you saw the broadcast, so of course."

"……Right."

Noctia slowly extended a hand.

"Good to meet you, Baek Hoon."

Baek Hoon reached out and took it.

"It's good to meet you too!"

In that instant a star exploded inside Noctia's void, but she paid it no mind at all. If anything, she held his hand a little tighter.

"……Warm."

"Yes?"

"Your hand."

I tilted my head.

"Is it?"

"Mm."

She laughed, quietly.

"It's been a very long time."

"Noctia."

A cold voice cut in, and Baek Hoon turned. Orvelia stood at the entrance to the garden, and hundreds of pupils had appeared across the face of her clock.

"You visit my mansion and do not so much as greet me first. As willful now as you ever were."

Noctia laughed.

"Hehe. It's been a while, clockmaker."

"……."

"Still as frightening as always."

"And whose fault do you imagine that is?"

"Who knows?"

Noctia answered without letting go of my hand.

"I only came to see a friend. Did I really need to greet you first?"

Tick. Orvelia's clock hands stopped.

"……A friend?"

"Mm."

Noctia looked at Baek Hoon.

"Right, Baek Hoon?"

"Ah, yes!"

Baek Hoon laughed.

"We met on the broadcast yesterday."

The stars in Noctia's void glittered.

"Hehe. You heard him."

Orvelia smiled, slowly. But that smile……

"……I see."

She came toward Baek Hoon.

"Sir Baek Hoon."

"Yes?"

"Do you remember your promise to broadcast with me today?"

"Of course!"

I nodded.

"We'll do it together later."

At that, Orvelia's clock hands moved, gentle.

"Hehe. I'm glad."

Noctia tilted her head.

"A broadcast?"

"Yes."

I answered.

"I promised to stream with Miss Orvelia today."

"……Is that so."

Noctia thought for a moment, then smiled.

"Then may I join as well?"

"Of course!"

I lit up.

"If the queen shows up too, it'll be a total hit, won't it?"

In that instant Orvelia's clock stopped, and every star in Noctia's void glittered at once. Tia, standing beside Baek Hoon, quietly clutched her teapot head.

……This is bad.

She knew, by instinct, that today's broadcast was never going to end quietly.

That afternoon, a new broadcast notice went up on the Nonhuman Pandemonium Public Information Network.

Barely a few seconds after the post went up, the chat on the high-tier entities' anonymous board exploded.

And so the most dangerous joint broadcast in the history of Nonhuman Pandemonium was about to begin.

"Whoaaa……."

I was staring at Noctia's head in open awe.

"The stars are actually moving."

"Hehe. Want to touch them?"

"What?!"

I brightened.

"I can really touch them?"

"Of course."

Noctia slowly lowered her head, and countless stars glittered inside her void.

"If it's you, you may touch them as much as you like."

In that moment, a clamorous chime rang from Orvelia's clock.

Dong!

"……Noctia."

"Hm?"

"Aren't you standing a little too close to my guest?"

"Hehe. Jealous, are you?"

"……."

I looked back and forth between the two of them.

……Ah. The mood is kind of weird, isn't it?

And a message appeared in my vision.

"……."

I stared at the message, then muttered under my breath.

"……I'm screwed."

It looked as though my life in Nonhuman Pandemonium was about to get a great deal rougher than I had thought.